Hamilton Embraces New F1 Cars in Second Ferrari Season
Lewis Hamilton has begun his second season with Ferrari after concluding last year’s drivers' championship in sixth place.
Contrasting with Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso's views on the new regulations, Hamilton expressed that he finds this year's Formula 1 cars "more fun" to drive.
Formula 1 has implemented its most significant rule changes ever, introducing new regulations affecting chassis, engines, tyres, and fuel.
While Verstappen has voiced concerns about the extensive energy management required by the new hybrid engines, Hamilton appreciates the cars' reduced grip and the altered aerodynamic approach.
"We just have a less downforce," the Ferrari driver said. "But you still have to discover the grip. There's still so many elements completely under our control.
So, it's just different, and new, and I still find it quite fun.
The cars are more fun to drive. They're easier to correct. So you have snaps and keep them on track. The previous year's cars were a bit too on edge."
Mixed Reactions Among Drivers on New Car Dynamics
While Hamilton finds the cars enjoyable, Alonso believes that driver skill has diminished in importance due to the necessity of optimal energy management. He explained that some corners are taken slower than possible because conserving energy for straights yields better lap times.
"You're always on the limit on the grip. It depends on the corners. You're always on the limit on the grip in a rental car if you push to the limit.
But the high-speed corners, especially, I think it's less challenging. You have to say that. There's nothing wrong to say [that].
In Turn 12 in Bahrain, and some of the corners maybe in Barcelona, you decide to save energy and go through the corner at a slower speed so you have more energy for the straight.
From a driver's point of view the skills matter less because you can go as fast as the energy choice you make before that corner, so it's a different Formula 1."
Following Verstappen's recent criticism of the new engines, describing the cars as "Formula E on steroids" and "just not Formula 1," he elaborated on the challenges posed by the cars' grip levels.
"You're fighting the grip. You're on the limit of what you have, for sure. It's just not as much now.
Of course, I also know that this probably is one of the worst [circuits], in terms of the grip feeling that you get from a car, because of the tarmac being so aggressive.
A lot less downforce but at the same time, you also don't get a lot of combined grip [in the braking and turning phase] at the moment. It's a bit hard to manage."
Uncertainty Remains on Impact of New Rules on Racing
Hamilton stated that he has yet to form a definitive opinion on how the new regulations will influence racing quality.
"I don't know if it's going to be better."
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